Those first
three really do look interesting; I think I will enjoy reading those. That fourth
one, though – it’s more of a textbook for a class – not sure that I really want
to get quite that in-depth on this. But we’ll see how it goes.

Who knows, I
may find it completely fascinating and devour all four of them in one month!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

I believe
in keeping an open mind. Things sometimes happen that you do not expect, and if
you’re not paying attention you might miss an opportunity for something new and
wonderful. Of course, it might also lead you down the wrong road – so you still
have to keep your wits about you. But
I do try to stay open to new ideas, at the very least.

That being
said: twice now in as many weeks I have come across a rather interesting
proposal. Well, two proposals, actually – but each one dealing with the same
subject. And I’m inclined to believe that “something” is in the air - some “change”
is about to take place. I can either choose to go with it, or not.

Specifically,
I’ve been “approached” by members of the same sex hinting at the possibility of
budding relationships.

Now, I am
not lesbian, by any means. Nor am I homophobic or a “gay basher” in the
slightest. I truly believe that if a person is able to find love and have the
complement returned to them in kind – it really doesn’t matter if it’s a man
and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. My own personal line
would be drawn at relationships with members of another species!

Still, if I were
to see where this particular trail leads too, it would be with the caveat that I
am simply not interested in a romantic and/or sexual relationship. But it’s entirely possible that I might find out
something about myself that can assist me in my life’s quest.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Actually
I’m probably on revision 5 or 6 by now. I've lost count. But
the point is: I am reinventing myself yet again. Not exactly by choice, maybe -
but I am doing it, slowly but surely.

One of
the ways I am doing this is by treating myself to some road trips. The first
one I've already told you about: spending the weekend in Seward a while back.
My next one will be a train ride! I saw an ad from the Alaska Railroad for a
package deal and figured “Why not?”

So: round trip tickets from Anchorage to Talkeetna,
overnight stay at the Roadhouse, and (drum roll, please) a Pie Making Class!
How cool is that? I get to learn how to make pie. Unfortunately they didn't have any openings until March, but I guess that gives me something to look
forward to.

I am also
registered for a couple classes at Summit Spice & Tea: first a tea tasting
class in February and then a chocolate tasting class in March. And I bought
myself tickets to see some folk music at the PAC in February.

Basically, I am doing all the things I've been wanting to
do but haven’t because I knew he would not be interested.

What I am
not doing is going out on dates.

Everybody
kept telling me that’s what I needed to do, so I tried it - with disastrous
results. I probably should apologize to the man who took me out for drinks only
to have me burst in to tears right in the middle of it all. I’m sure that was not
at all what he expected.

But I did at least lean something from the experience: I need
to concentrate on ME now. At some point in the far distant future I might be
ready for something else, but for now it’s just me.

My first
day of Jury Duty was about as good as it gets: Monday was a holiday and the
court house was closed! Yet another reason to be thankful for Martin Luther
King.

For my
second day, my number was called so I had to go in. Right off the bat, I learned
something new = the metal plate in my neck does in fact set off the alarms at
the security gate! Thankfully, Dr. Kralick gave me a card to carry with me that
explains what’s going on. Also thankfully I remembered to bring it with me.

Once I got
settled in upstairs in the waiting room, I ran in to a friend I hadn't seen in
probably 15 years. He’s the one who recognized me at first, but once he stopped
to talk to me I remembered him immediately. He and his wife had been good
friends back in the day; hopefully we can be again. Then, once they started
reading off names, I came across another good friend I hadn't seen in a while! Two
in one day – that’s pretty cool.

The case I
got assigned to (actually all three of us got assigned to it) was another
sexual assault case. I say “another one” because last time I got called for
jury duty I ended up on a case involving a 57 year old man and a 5 year old
child. This time, thankfully, it was not quite so bad since both parties
involved were adults within a year or two of age.

The jury
pool for the case consisted of at least 75 people, so right away they started
winnowing out people for various reasons. I made it through the first purge, but
on the second one I did get excused. So, I went to work.

I’m still
calling in each night, but the odds of my number being called again are fairly
low so I just may be done with it.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

On a
Friday afternoon before Labor Day, Americans are getting ready for the holiday
weekend, completely unaware of a long-planned terrorist plot about to be
launched against the country. Kyle Tait is settling in for his return flight
home when a single nuclear bomb is detonated 300 miles above the heart of America. The
blast, an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP), destroys every electrical device in the
country, and results in the crippling of the power grid, the shutting down of modern
communications, and bringing to a halt most forms of transportation.

Kyle
narrowly escapes when his airplane crashes on take-off, only to find himself
stranded 2,000 miles from home in a country that has been forced, from a
technological standpoint, back to the 19th Century. Confused, hurt, scared, and
alone, Kyle must make his way across a hostile continent to a family he’s not
even sure has survived the effects of the attack. As Kyle forges his way home,
his frightened family faces their own struggles for survival in a community
trying to halt its own slow spiral into chaos and anarchy.

Based on scientist’s predictions of what would happen if a
single nuclear bomb is detonated over Kansas,
77 Days in September follows Kyle and his wife, Jennifer, as they are stretched
past their breaking point, but find in their devotion to each other the
strength to persevere.

-----

Anyway it
got me thinking. If something were to happen, all of my photographs are on the
computer! I’d loose all of those memories…

Then I got
an email from Groupon offering a deal on the ShutterFly photo books, so I
thought I’d give it a try. When all is said and done, I’m hoping to have one
8.5x11 book for each expedition.

Since I've never done it before I thought I would start out making one of some of my
favorite local hikes. This will give me a chance to get familiar with the
process first, so that the “important” ones turn out as good as I can make
them.

Last
night I went through most of my photos and picked out 15-20 of my favorite hikes.
Then I went through and picked out 4-5 pictures from each one to highlight the
occasion. This weekend (maybe even tonight) I’ll start in on the actual
process.

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

I really
needed to get away this past weekend – just way too much drama to deal with
constantly – so I took myself down to Seward for some ME time!

The drive
down was very pretty. I took half a day off work on Friday so that I could
drive in the daylight. I was able to take my time and not worry about the icy
roads, stopping several times along the way to get out, stretch a bit, take
some pictures, and breathe in the crisp fresh air.

Once I
got in to Seward it was very easy to find my hotel. I stayed at the Holiday
Express which is located just off the docks, so I got a great view of the
harbor out of my second-story room. I checked in, got my things settled, and
then set off for town to find something to eat.

I didn't do as much as I had planned on doing while I was there. I cried a lot. I slept
a lot. I didn't eat much at all. I walked the docks. I visited the SeaLifeCenter. I took a drive down to Lowell
Point. I took pictures. I made cards (I had brought my crafting supplies with
me). I wrote letters. I read my Kindle. I watched TV. I turned my phone off and didn't talk to anybody the entire time I was there.

Basically,
I relaxed. Finally!

Admittedly,
I could have done almost all of that at home, and for a lot cheaper – but I’m
glad I went. A big Thank You goes out to my niece Katy for taking care of my
girls for me, too!

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

As always, we use this time to reflect on how we can attempt
to make the coming year better than the preceding year. I don’t want to jinx
anything here, but seriously – it couldn’t be any worse!

But it was brought to my attention that I have let certain
friendships go by the wayside these past few years, all with the best of
intention. My friends had gotten married, had babies, or otherwise started new
families for themselves – and I assumed there would not be room in them for me.

Hopefully, I was wrong – because I need my friends more than
ever right now.

So, my New Year’s Resolution is to make an effort to
reconnect with them. This means finding things to do with them that doesn’t exclude
children and/or husbands.

Not to embarrass anybody here, but specifically I am talking
about Rikki, Anne, and Corissa. I really enjoy your company and want to be a
part of your life. So be warned!

Some ideas I have: let’s go for walks in the park! Let’s go
on picnics. Let’s go to the zoo. Let’s bake cookies.